Marker-counter device

ABSTRACT

An elongate outer casing having a window and a counter mounted in the casing for presenting numerical indicia through the window, the casing being provided interiorly with a shiftable mechanism for actuating the counter and including marking means extending exteriorly for marking and depressible to shift the mechanism and actuate the counter.

v United States Patent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS [72]Inventor Anthony S. Bongiovanni Woodbury,N.J. 36,229

[21] Appl. No. [22] Filed 1,007,350 l0/191l Goodin....... 1,069,2718/1913 Lillard...... 2,357,940 9/1944 Lude May 11,1970 [45] PatentedNov.2,l97l

Primary Examiner- Stephen J. Tomsky Altorney- Robert K. Youtie ABSTRACT:An elongate outer casing having a window and a [73] Assignee Esti-Mate,lnc.

Woodbury, NJ.

[54] MARKER-COUNTER DEVICE 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

counter mounted in the casing for presenting numerical indicia throughthe window, the casing being provided interiorly 235/64 with a shiftablemechanism for actuating the counter and including marking meansextending exteriorly for marking and 235/64 depressible to shift themechanism and actuate the counter.

[51] lnt.Cl............... [50] Field of 1 MARKER-COUNTER navrcsBACKGROUND THE INVENTION :While the broad concept of marking andcounting the marks is not new, there has not been provided in the past asatisfactory device in -the nature of a lead pencil or other similarhand-held writing implement, which conveniently marks items to becounted and simultaneously efiects counting of the items. While therehave, in the past, been proposed complex mechanisms for achieving amarking and counting function, in a wide variety of situations thesecomplex mechanisms were found to bulky, awkward, expensive andinconvenient to use. Hence, persons engaged in estimating, inventorytaking, and other operations involving marking and counting, ordinarilyutilized a pencil or other marking device and a separate counter orcountingdevice.

SUMMARY OF THIS INVENTION Accordingly, it is an important object of thepresent invention to provide a combination marker-counter device, in thenature of a mechanical pencil or similar implement, which is adapted formarking and counting a number of symbols, items or otherwise, which isextremely simple in construction, durable and reliable throughout alonguseful life, and which can be economically manufactured for 'sale ata reasonable price.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide amarker-counter device having the advantageous characteristics mentionedin the precediitg paragraph, which is extremely compact, so as to belight in weight and small in size, for easy manipulation and convenientstorage, say in a user's pocket, or otherwise on the user's person.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide amarker-counter device of the type described which includes a uniquemeans to selectively preventoperation of the counting mechanism asdesired, so that the solely as a marker.

While the marker-counter device of the present invention is illustratedand described herein asincluding a lead holder, in the manner of a leadpencil, it is appreciated that other suitable marking medium may beemployed, for example a ballpoint pen cartridge, crayon, or other.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon readingthe following specif cation and referring to the accompanying drawings,which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope will be indicated by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFFRREDEMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the drawings, andspecifically to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, a marker-counter of the presentinvention is there generally designated 10, and assumes the overallexternal configuration of a writing implement, such as a lead pencil, orthe like. More specifically, the marker-counter includes an elongatehollow outer casing or housing I l, which may be of generally tubular,open-ended configuration having a laterally enlarged or protuberantmediinstant device may be used al portion 12 provided with a transparentwindow or opening 13, say having a magnifying glass closure. The outercasing 11 reduces, as at 14 in the upward direction from the laterallyenlarged medial portion 12 to an upper end portion 15. Similarly, thelaterally enlarged medial portion 12 reduces downwardly, as at 16 tolower portion '17 which, in turn, tapers or reduces downwardly, at at 18to a lower terminal or end portion 19. The upper terminal or end portion15 and lower terminal or end portion 19 may both be open, the formerbeing closed by a closure cap 20 engaged over the upper end andremovably fixed thereto by any suitable fastener means, such as athreaded fastener 21 extending diametrically through the wall of closurecap 20 and received region of terminal portion 15. The upper end closureor cap 20 is formed with a throughbore or opening 22, see FIG. 2, for apurpose appearing presently, and is further formed with a blind,downwardly or inwardly opening hole 23, which communicates with theinterior of the outer casing.

Located in the laterally enlarged medial portion 12 of outer casing 11is a counter device 25, which may be of conventional construction.Further; the counter device 25 may be provided with changeable numericalindicia, see FIG. 1, visually presented through the window 13, andafi'ording a record or count of items being counted. To reset thecounter 25, say to 0, there may be provided a reset member or button 26,presented exteriorly of the outer casing 11 for manual operation by theuser. Interiorly of the outer casing 11 the counter device 25 isprovided with an operating member 27 movable to effect countingoperation of the counter. In the illustrated embodiment, the operatingmember 27 is shiftable longitudinally of the outer casing 11, say in thedirection of arrow 28, to effect each digital displacement or recordedcount.

An inner casing 30 is located longitudinally of and within the outercasing 11. The inner casing 30 is of an openended tubular configuration,including a main portion 31 terminating in an open upper end 32 adjacentto and spaced below the cap 20. Extending downwardly from the mainportion 31 isa reducing or tapering portion 33 adapted to conforrnablyseat against the interior of the tapering portion 18 of outer casing 11.From the tapering portion 33 of inner casing 30, there extends a lowerterminal or end portion 34 slidable within the lower terminal or endportion 19 of the outer casing. Medially within the interior of the mainportion 31 of inner casing 30, there is provided an internal shoulder36, and at one location in the upper end edge 32 of the inner casing 30there is provided a notch 37, best seen in FIG. 3.

A resiliently biased elongate memberor plunger 38 may have an enlargedupper end of head 39 slidably received in the bore 23 of closure cap 20,its other end depending to a terminal portion 40 engaged in notch 37.Suitable resilient means, such as a compression spring 41 may beinterposed in bore 23 resiliently urging the plunger 38 downwardly.Further, the plunger 38 serves to restrain inner casing 30 againstrotation within the outer casing 11.

In alignment with the counter operating member 27, longitudinally withinthe outer casing 11, there is providedexternally on the inner casing 30a lateral projection or extension 42 which is movable with the innercasing into actuating engagement with the counter operating member. Thatis, the inner casing 30 is shiftable longitudinally within the outercasing, in the direction of arrow 43 against the resilient restoringforce of spring 41. Upon upward shifting movement of the inner casing 30relative to the outer casing 11, the inner casing extension 42 engageswith and shifts the counter-operating member 27 to.actuate the counter.

Disposed longitudinally of and within the inner casing 30 is an elongatemarking means holder 45. The marking means holder 45 may be of a tubularconstruction having an upper end enlargement or head 46 slidable withinthe inner casing, and its lower portion split, as by longitudinal cuts47 into a plurality of longitudinally extending fingers or tines 48. Thetines 48 are resiliently expansile upon their extension outwardly withrespect to the inner casing 30, and their retraction is limited byradially protuberant formations or bends 50. This construction of markerholder is conventional for holding lead in a variety of lead pencils, sothat further description is unnecessary. While the marker holder 45 maybe termed a lead holder hereinafter, it is appreciated that any suitabletype of marker holder or marker per se may be employed and is intendedto be comprehended herein.

A coil compression spring 51, or other suitable resilient means, may beemployed to resiliently urge the lead holder 45 upward toward itsretracted position relative to the inner casing 30, as seen in FIGS. 1and 2. The spring 51 may be interposed between the collar or shoulder 36and end enlargement or head 46 to effect the desired resilient urgence.

In order to extend or displace the lead holder 45 longitudinallyoutwardly, as in refilling or replacement of lead, an elongate pushmember or rod 52 extends slidably through the bore 22 of closure capbetween the interior and exterior of the outer casing 11. Morespecifically, the push member 52 has its inner end extending downwardlythrough the open upper end 32 of inner casing into engagement with theupper end enlargement 46 of lead holder 45, while the upper or outer endof push member 52 may be provided with a finger actuating member orbutton. Thus, the push member 52 is manually depressible for slidingmovement relative to the closure cap and outer casing 11 to displace thelead holder 45 longitudinally outwardly relative to'the outer casing 11and inner casing 30, against the restoring force of spring 51.

In the counting operation, it is only necessary to hold the outer casingll firmly, and depress downwardly with the lead holder 45 or held lead49 engagingfa surface to be marked. This effects upward-shiftingmovement of the inner casing 30 and its received components relative tothe outer casing, the extension 42 engaging the counter-operating member27 to operate the counter. The coil compression spring 41 is compressedby this counting operation, and upon release of pressure, the spring 41restores the inner casing 30 to its illustrated condition of FIGS. 1 and2, preparatory to repetition of the procedure for the next count.

In practice the instant marker-counter device may be sufficientlycompact and light in weight for convenient portability, say in a user'spocket, and for this purpose a clip 53 may be provided on one side ofthe outer casing 11, see FIG. 1, to releasably retain the device in apocket.

When it is desired to utilize the instant device as a marker, and notemploy the counting function, the inner casing 30 may be quickly andeasily locked in its extended position of FIGS. 1 and 2, for use as aconventionalpencil, pen or the like. Toward this end, a leaf spring 55may have one end fixed, as at 56 interiorly of the outer casing 11, theother end being provided with a lateral projection or detent 57. Theleaf spring 55 extends longitudinally within the outer casing 11, andthe inner casing 30 is formed with a radially outwardly facing recess orhole 58 located in alignment with the detent 57 when the inner casing isretracted. The outer casing 11 is formed with a slot 59 extendinglongitudinally along the lower region of leaf spring 55, and a lockingmember or slide 60 is slidable in the slot 59 as between the upperposition of FIGS. 1 and 2 and the lower position of FIG. 4. In the upperposition of slide 60, the leaf spring 55 is undeflected, and the detentmember 57 is retracted outwardly away from the receiver hole 58 of innercasing 30. However, upon downward shifting movement of locking slide 60in slot 59, the slide displaces the lower end of leaf spring 55 and itscarried detent member 57 radially inwardly to interengage the detent inthe opening 58, the condition shown in FIG. 4. In this condition theinner casing 30 is effectively locked against longitudinal shiftingmovement, so that the device 10 may be employed as a conventionalmarker.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides amarker-counter device which is extremely simple in construction foreconomy in manufacture and reliability throughout a long useful life,and otherwise effectively accomplishes its intended objects.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by wayof illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, itis understood that certain changes and modifications may be made withinthe spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A combination marker-counter device comprising an elongate outercasing having a window, a counter mounted in said outer casing along oneside and spaced between the ends thereof and having numerical indiciapresented exteriorly through said window, an operating member on saidcounter projecting interiorly of said outer casing toward the oppositeside thereof and shiftable longitudinally thereof to operate the counterand change the numerical indicia, an inner casing located longitudinallywithin said outer casing extending along and in opposite directionsbeyond said counter and longitudinally shiftable relative to said outercasing between extended and retracted positions, a transverse extensionon said inner casing and movable therewith longitudinally of saidcasings for actuating engagement with said operating member on shiftingof said inner casing to its retracted position, resilient means urgingsaid inner casing toward its extended position, a lead holder internallyof said inner casing for movement therewith and projecting exteriorly ofsaid inner and outer casings for presenting a lead to a surface to beengaged, said lead holder being mounted in said inner casing formovement therewith and longitudinally extensile and retractile movementrelative thereto, and additional resilient means urging said lead holdertoward a limiting position of retractile movement, forcible engagementof a lead with a surface serving to effect relative shifting betweensaid inner and outer casings for said actuating engagement with saidcounter-operating member.

2. A marker-counter device according to claim I, in combination withlocking means carried by said outer casing and selectivelyinterengageable with said inner casing to prevent said relative shiftingmovement, for use of said device solely as a marker.

3. A marker-counter device according to claim I, in combination withlead-gripping means on said lead holder and movable to grip and releasea piece of lead on said retractile and extensile movement, respectively,and a push member extending from interiorly of said inner casing inoperative connection with said lead holder to exteriorly of said outercasing, for manual actuation of said lead holder between its extensileand retractile positions of movement.

4. A marker-counter according to claim 3, in combination with a lockingdetent carried by said outer casing and selectively shiftable relativethereto into and out of locking interengagement with said inner casing,to selectively prevent and permit said relative shifting movementbetween said casings.

1. A combination marker-counter device comprising an elongate outercasing having a window, a counter mounted in said outer casing along oneside and spaced between the ends thereof and having numerical indiciapresented exteriorly through said window, an operating member on saidcounter projecting interiorly of said outer casing toward the oppositeside thereof and shiftable longitudinally thereof to operate the counterand change the numerical indicia, an inner casing located longitudinallywithin said outer casing extending along and in opposite directionsbeyond said counter and longitudinally shiftable relative to said outercasing between extended and retracted positions, a transverse extensionon said inner casing and movable therewith longitudinally of saidcasings for actuating engagement with said operating member on shiftingof said inner casing to its retracted position, resilient means urgingsaid inner casing toward its extended position, a lead holder internallyof said inner casing for movement therewith and projecting exteriorly ofsaid inner and outer casings for presenting a lead to a surface to beengaged, said lead holder being mounted in said inner casing formovement therewith and longitudinally extensile and retractile movementrelative thereto, and additional resilient means urging said lead holdertoward a limiting position of retractile movement, forcible engagementof a lead with a surface serving to effect relative shifting betweensaid inner and outer casings for said actuating engagement with saidcounter-operating member.
 2. A marker-counter device according to claim1, in combination with locking means carried by said outer casing andselectively interengageable with said inner casing to prevent saidrelative shifting movement, for use of said device solely as a marker.3. A marker-counter device according to claim 1, in combination withlead-gripping means on said lead holder and movable to grip and releasea piece of lead on said retractile and extensile movement, respectively,and a push member extending from interiorly of said inner casing inoperative connection with said lead holder to exteriorly of said outercasing, for manual actuation of said lead holder between its extensileand retractile positions of movement.
 4. A marker-counter according toclaim 3, in combination with a locking detent carried by said outercasing and selectively shiftable relative thereto into and out oflocking interengagement with said inner casing, to selectively preventand permit said relative shifting movement between said casings.